On May 6, 2019, a seminar was held at the Kyrgyz-Turkish Manas University with the participation of professors and teachers of this university with the support of the Center for the Study of Central Asia, on the topic: “Kazakhistan-Iranian Relations in Modern Geopolitical Conditions: Directions, Restrictions and Prospects” conducted by Tyulyubayeva Akmaral, a PhD student of the 2nd year of the specialty International Relations from the L.N Gumilyov Eurasian National University.

During the seminar, the participants were acquainted with the purpose and objectives of the internship of doctoral students of the Faculty of International Relations of the L.N. Gumilyov ENU who arrived at the Manas KTU on April 25 of this year to undergo a foreign scientific internship as part of the educational process of their university and based on the Memorandum of Understanding between the L.N.Gumilyov Eurasian National University and KTMU from April 7, 2017.

During the seminar, the main provisions and problems of studying the doctoral dissertation research on the above topic were reviewed and discussed. Tymalyubayeva Akmaral showed the objective prerequisites and theoretical foundations of the analysis of interaction between Kazakhstan and Iran, explained the historical, geographical, geopolitical prerequisites for the establishment and development of relations between the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Islamic Republic of Iran. The factors determining the directions of cooperation between the two republics in the field of security, economy, trade, transport, culture, etc. were also briefly reviewed.

Further, prospects for the development of bilateral relations between Kazakhstan and Iran were sounded in the near future, briefly described the role of Kazakhstan in Iran’s foreign policy and the importance of Iran for the Republic of Kazakhstan.

In conclusion, the participants of the seminar asked questions to the doctoral candidate on the above topics, also discussed the problems and peculiarities of interaction between Iran and other countries of Central Asia.

On November 15, 2018, Dr. Altynbek Zholdoshov presented his work which called “Development, Institutionalization and Role of Madrasahs in Kyrgyzstan” at the seminar of ORASAM. Then the seminar continued in the form of questions and answers, and important information was obtained.

15 madrasahs in Bishkek / Chuy region were examined by Coldoshov and his team. Interview with total 31 director and teacher, and a semi-structured questionnaire with 352 students were conducted. Zholdoshov stated that the number of madrasa in Kyrgyzstan has increased since the 2000s. As a result of the surveys, it was reported that the children of families with low socioeconomic status and the children of families who have long been interested in religion have been trained in these madrasas.

After 2010, Coldoshov noted that competition between madrasas increased. He also said that madrasas could be classified as "traditionalist" and "modernist", and modernist madrasas had more students. In modern madrasas, there is a regional quota system, namely, a certain number of students were taken from each region. In order to start the madrasa, it was stated that there is a requirement to finish the ninth grade. In addition, he said that according to expression of the administrations of madrasas, these madrasas are financed by local donors.

On March 9, 2017, the program coordinator of the office of the Turkish Cooperation Agency (TIKA) in Kyrgyzstan Evren Rutbil delivered a report on "TIKA activities in Kyrgyzstan" at the student workshop. Mr. Evren noted that TİKA began its cooperation with Kyrgyzstan since 1991, after the state reached its sovereignty and today the agency provides support in various fields.

(Kyrgyz-Turkish Manas University, Faculty of Economics and Management, Department of International Relations)

After gaining independence, on the one hand Kyrgyzstan struggled to overcome economic, political and social problems, and on the other hand it began negotiations with neighboring states on delimitation and demarcation of the country's territory as part of the nation building process.

With a decrease in the birth rate and longevity, the world's population is rapidly aging. This process, which expresses the proportional and numerical increase of old people in the whole population, is a phenomenon of "old age" and focuses on social policy.